Construction & Contractors Blog
Dock repairs are important for any marine structure or dock that has been installed on your waterfront property. The frequency of dock repairs depends on a lot of factors, including location, size, and severity of the damage. The following common dock repairs are some of the issues that you might have to deal with:
Piers
Dock piers are the support structure of docks. They are the foundation on which docks rest. They typically consist of concrete, wood, or steel beams to which support posts or piles are attached.
Piers also serve as safety rails for the dock and boat. They prevent drunken boaters from falling off the dock, falling overboard, or driving their boat into the dock.
Piers can be damaged by wind, poor construction, or natural forces such as ice, snow, or seismic activity. Over time, piers can become cracked and worn. Fixing a pier can be costly. It is good to have the piers inspected and repaired before the deterioration continues and repairs become costlier.
Decks
The repair to a dock that needs the most attention is decking. Decks need repairs because the wood or other materials receive the most abuse on decks.
Decks need repairs because docks move. The weight of a boat on a dock causes the dock to bend slightly. If enough bending happens, the decking will sag, causing gaps to develop. Sometimes, these surfaces are made of materials like composite lumber or vinyl, but most often, they are wood. The wood is vulnerable to natural wear and decay. Therefore, there might be decking boards that need to be replaced to repair damage to your dock as it ages.
Beams
If you have a dock with beams, sooner or later, you'll have something go wrong. You might also have things break or sag, or you might have rotted wood. In general, the repairs needed for beams are fairly straightforward. The beams are made of wood, and when wood rots, it's easy enough to fix it.
Sometimes beams are damaged in a storm, and the wood becomes compressed or warped. When beams are damaged like this, it can sometimes make sense to replace them.
Beams can also be damaged when they are hit by large objects, such as boats. This can happen when the beam is hit by a big wave, when something hits the beam as it is being lifted by a crane, or when something hits the beam in the water. In this case, the damage is more severe.
If the beam is hit like this, it sometimes makes sense to replace it. But if the beam can be saved, it might be wise to do so.
Understanding the types of dock repairs that damage docks can allow you to prevent problems in the future. Contact a dock repair service if you need help fixing the damage to marine structures on your property.
Share11 November 2021
